Hacks Sharp's Pygmy A.P. Progression

[Hack Yeah!]

Documentation of this maples journey, Hopefully a long one!

I purchased a landscape tree in Nov 2021 with the idea of layering it off of the generic rootstock. I've got lots of maples layers I'm building from the nebari up but decided I needed a few trees I could work top down.

Here it was as purchased.

 

[Hack Yeah!]

I set a ground layer in spring of 2022

 

[Hack Yeah!]

Separated layer in spring of 2023. I screwed it to a board mainly for support, definitely not Ebihara treatment.

 

[Hack Yeah!]

The tree has had a good initial season. May 2023


I thinned the canopy once through the season and it got a little more thinning from a hail storm. Never got a second push of growth, I'm not sure if I can encourage that?

 

[Hack Yeah!]

I was fortunate enough to get a private day with Tyler Sherrod from Dogwood Studios, https://www.dogwoodstudiosnc.com/ ,and we went through this tree together. The canopy was thinned considerably to encourage deeper backbudding and strengthen the existing interior growth. This will continue to be the plan for next few years, maybe repot in 2025.

 

[pandacular]

wow, this is a fantastic nursery find. All the Japanese maples at nurseries near me are beanpoles. This one already has a pretty solid branch structure! And it looks like the internodes of the branches are decently short, with lots of latent buds.

 

[hemmy]

Separated layer in spring of 2023

That’s a nice root spread. Did you ring the bark and use rooting hormone for the ground layer?

 

[Hack Yeah!]

That’s a nice root spread. Did you ring the bark and use rooting hormone for the ground layer?

Yes, I cut the ring in the bark and applied a wire tourniquet just for added protection from bridging. Then applied some clonex and fitted a cut out nursery can bottom around it to encourage the roots to run out and not just straight down.

 

[sevan]

Wow, that looks great! What nursery did you find this in? I haven't seen anything that good around here, so I must be missing a good place to visit.

 

[Hack Yeah!]

Wow, that looks great! What nursery did you find this in? I haven't seen anything that good around here, so I must be missing a good place to visit.

It was a random find in a Pikes nursery in Peachtree City. I just had some extra time before a work appointment. I dont think I've been back since so not sure if they regularly have a nice selection or not.

 

[sevan]

It was a random find in a Pikes nursery in Peachtree City. I just had some extra time before a work appointment. I dont think I've been back since so not sure if they regularly have a nice selection or not.

Thanks, maybe I'll check out Pikes in Marietta this weekend. I did get a nice Amber Glow Dawn Redwood from them last year that I am taking air layers from.

 

[Hack Yeah!]

Marked for branch reduction

 

[Bonsai Nut]

I don't know what I'm more impressed by... your work on this tree, or the fact you got Tyler to return a phone call

Seriously nice. @dbonsaiw needs to see this thread.

 

[dbonsaiw]

Really nice tree and great work. I’ve been marking branches as well - itching for spring.

 

[Hack Yeah!]

Not looking to pretty for the overall shape but cut back majorly and interior growth is strong. The compaction portion should be done by next season. Fertilizer applied early this year.

 

[Hack Yeah!]

Repot today, two root grafts, placed in oversize grow out ceramic pot. Still attached to the wood board.

 

[Adamski77]

very nice progression... when you apply clonex on the graft you do 100% or dilute somewhat?

 

[SeanS]

very nice progression... when you apply clonex on the graft you do 100% or dilute somewhat?

Graft or layer? I see mention of clonex earlier on when the layering was being discussed.

 

[Hack Yeah!]

I used clonex, full strength on the layer. None was used on the grafts.

 

[ForrestW]

Nice progression. I have a few trees I am going to try and air layer off the stock this year and this thread is encouraging... looking forward to seeing the progress.